Knitting needle



Oct. 25, 1949.- G; MAKER U 2,486,184

KNITTING NEEDLE Filed April 2, 1946 iggw INVENTORS fw/mdz .6. (Val/(er- Sgltfla J [Yarns B Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING NEEDLE Gertrude H. Maker and Sylvia S. Harris,

New York, N. Y.

Application April 2, 1946, Serial No. 659,021

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to needles which are adapted to the knitting by hand of articles of various kinds but more particularly articles in which the stitches in the rows as they are formed on the needle must be varied in order to shape the article to fit the body or limb, for example, to shape the shoulders, arm holes, neck or the waist in a sweater. The number of stitches, therefore, must be counted in the different rows. It is advantageous also to keep count of the number of rows in which a constant number of stitches are to :be maintained. Moreover, where the number of stitches in the different rows is varied, it is necessary to keep count of the number of rows in which the number of stitches is increased or decreased and the number of stitches added or omitted for each row, in order that the proper shape may be given to the article.

In the use of ordinary knitting needles the knitter is required to do this counting mentally as the knitting proceeds, or to stop and count at intervals the number of stitches in the row and the number of rows which have been knitted in relation to an initial row. Memory and mental counting may become confusing, tedious or tiring and, therefore, unreliable.

It is an object of the invention to provide a knitting needle with means for readily keeping count of the number of stitches or of the number of rows as knitting of the article proceeds.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pair of knitting needles having such. counting means and adapted to be readily distinguishable one from the other so that the counting means on one needle may be utilized to keep count of the number of rows and the counting means on the other may be used to keep count of the number of stitches.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a counting means for such knitting needles which readily may be manipulated to keep count of the rows or the stitches, as the case may be, but is adapted to maintain the position to which it is set in the counting operation.

It is a feature of the invention that the counting means is associated with the shank of the needle and preferably is positioned adjacent one end of the shank of the needle so as to occupy generally the position of the usual head carried by knitting needles. This counting means comprises a plurality of separately rotatable elements, each of which carries on its periphery, so as to be easily readable by the knitter, a series of indicia, ordinarily the numerals to 9 inclusive. The rotatable elements may be mounted on the shank of the needle or upon a portion of the head so as to be rotatable relative thereto. Preferably these rotatable elements are in frictional contact with the shank or the head but other means may be provided to prevent unintentional rotation of these elements. Nevertheless, the elements are so mounted that, at will, they may be selectively rotated relative to each other and relative to the shank into positions which will bring the indicia carried thereby into register with each other, for example, to become numerals of two or more di its.

The needle also carries indicating means in fixed relation to the shank thereof which is adapted to indicate the indicia on the rotatable elements which are brought into register therewith upon rotation of these elements. As this indicating means is fixed relative to the shank and as the rotatable elements may be rotated selectively upon the shank, any of the indicia, that is the numerals on any or all of the elements, may be brought at will into register with this indicating means to indicate, for example, the number of stitches to be cast on the needle or to indicate the number of rows which are to be knitted with a given number of stitches. By providing each needle with the counting means of the invention the number of stitches may be set up on the counting means of one needle and the number of rows on the other. Where two rotatable elements are used on a needle the number of rows or the number of stitches of which count is to be kept may be as great as 99. If it is desired to be able to count rows or stitches of or more, the needles may be equipped with three shank may be relied on to prevent such lengthwise displacement.

It is an important feature of the invention that each of the plurality of rotatable elements may be rotated at will or two or more elements may be rotated together at the same time substantially by the gripof the thumb and index finger to produce the movement of these parts to the desired positions with respect to the indicating means, so as to set up the desired number in the counting means. Where frictional contact is relied upon to prevent displacement the friction need only be sufiicient to resist accidental turning effort of the fingers or other force which may be accidentally applied in the handling of the nee:- dles and the article being knitted. The form of the rotatable elements and the materials of which they and the needle may be made may be such that a substantial resistance against unintentional displacement may be secured while permitting rotation of the element or elements merely by pressure of the fingers. The plastics may be used for these parts.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of indicating means which, being fixed relative to the shank of the needle, is constructed to act as a guard to prevent the yarn from catching in the counting means as well as toguard against accidental displacement of the rotatable elements of the counting means.

The counting means is readily manipulatable by the fingers of one hand while the work and the needles are held in the other hand substantially as they are held in the knitting operation. Without further manipulation or change in the position of the hand holding the needles and the work any desired setting of the rotatable elements may be secured.

The invention will be further understood from the description to follow of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view showing the knitting needle of the invention with its length broken to accommodate the figure to the sheet.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the needle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a modification-of the indicating means provided in the device of the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a. modification of a member of the indicating means shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 shows another modification of the device of the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the needle-is provided with a shank l of the usual form. In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on the end 3 of the shank I which is opposite to the tapered end of the shank is fastened by means of pin 5 a head 1 having the usual flange portion 8. The

head 1 is provided with an indicator bracket 9,

shown in this embodiment as integrally connected with the head I. This'bracket 9 is formed to extend about two discs I l and I3 adjacent the peripheries thereof and with an inturned portion [5 at its extremity. The portion 15 on the one hand and main leg l6 of the bracket 9, or the head I, on the other hand, provide means which prevent substantial movement of the discs II and I3 along the shank I from the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the bracket 9 is provided with openings or windows I! and 18 with which circumferential lines of numerals on the respective discs register. It will be apparent that by selectively rotating the disc II or the disc [3, as the case may be, any numeral may be brought into register with-the respective window I! or I8 so that any number from to 99 may be set up beneath the indicator bracket 9.

The discs H and 13 are provided with a bore 4, which provides a frictional fit upon the portion 20 of the shank I on which the discs are intended to be rotated. Thus, either disc may be moved to bring a selected digit in register with the window beneath which it rotates. The friction thereafter will maintain this disc in the position to which it is moved so that the selected number appearing in the windows will be maintained in position until the discs are again rotated by the knitter. The friction fit, however, is such that either of the discs II or l3 or both together may be turned on the shank when grasped by the thumb and index finger. Within the scope of the invention this limited frictional grip may be secured by forming the discs of somewhat resilient material or providing, as shown in Fig. 4, a bushing 2| for the bore of each disc which, for example, may be of rubber or other elastic material yieldably to grip the shank at the portion 20 thereof.

It will be apparent that as the bracket 9 is fixed with respect to the shank it not only prevents any substantial movement of the discs along the shank but provides a guard for the discs which, should they become slightly separated, prevents the yarn from passing directly down between the discs or between the disc l3 and the head 1.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the indicator bracket 9 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this modification the bracket 40 also is formed integrally with the head 4| and this head is formed integrally with the shank of the needle. This may be accomplished by molding the needle as a whole of plastic material. If desired, however, the indicating bracket 43 may be fastened by suitable means to the head 44, Fig. 5. Thus, the bracket 43 may be made of a metal piece having its main leg 45 inserted, as shown in Fig. 5, in a hole 24 extending diametrically in the head 44 with the portion 22 extending parallel to the shank l and to the cylindrical surfaces of the discs H and I3. The leg 45 may act as a pin for holding the head 44 on the shank. In the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5 the edge 23 of the brackets 40, 43 is used as the indicating means adjacent which the numerals of the respective discs are positioned. In order not to catch the yarn, or if it enters the space between the portion 22 of the bracket and the peripheral surfaces of the discs ll and [3 to insure that it may be Withdrawn readily, the end of the portion 22 may be rounded as shown in Fig. 4.

Within the scope of the invention also the brackets 9, 40, 43 whether in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 providing the inturned end [5 or that of Figs. 4 and 5 without this inturned end, may have a substantial extent peripherally about the discs II and I3, as shown in Fig. 6. This 0 bracket 41 in Fig. 6 is designed to minimize or prevent both unintended displacement of these discs by rotation thereof and axial movement along the shank l, upon accidental contact of the fingers or of the hand or by other force. 05 Such greater peripheral extent of the bracket 41 also will provide increased protection against entrance of the yarn between the bracket and the discs II and 13. This peripheral extent, however, should not be so great as to cover the discs 70 II and I3 sufiiciently to interfere with ready manipulation of these discs, preferably by means of the thumb and forefinger of the hand.

The bracket 41 as shown in Fig. 6 may be formed integrally with the head 49. The leg 5! 75 may be made with a width to correspond at its outer portion to the peripheral extent of the bracket 41 and at its inner end to the head 49, as shown in Fig. 6, to aid in preventing the yarn from entering between the leg and the disc adjacent thereto. With the bracket in this form the discs first may be assembled with the head 49 and this assembly then may be placed upon the shank end 3 of the needle, as hereafter described, to enter this shank end in the hole 21 drilled or otherwise formed in the head 49. The material, form and dimensions of this bracket, however, may be such that it may be sprung sumciently to permit the inturned portion 26 which is provided for preventing movement of these discs along the shank I, as above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, to pass over the discs H and I3 in assembling the parts on the shank I. To this end the leg 5| of the bracket 41 may be made relatively narrow or relatively thin or both to form substantially a stiff spring support for the peripheral portion of the device. The inturned end portion 26, corresponding to the inturned portion l5, Fig. 2, may be made in arouate form as shown and integral with the bracket 41. If desired it may be formed of a separate piece and suitably fastened to the bracket 41.

Fig. '7 shows another modification of the invention in which the piece 30 has a shouldered cylindrical portion 32 turned on the end thereof opposite to the flange portion 38 of the needle. The diameter of this cylindrical portion 32 is larger than that of the shank l of the needle in order that the piece '30 may be provided with a hole drilled or otherwise formed axially therein to fit tightly to the end 3 of the needle. In this embodiment the discs II and I3 are provided with bores of such diameter as will permit these discs to be mounted rotatably on the cylindrical portion 32, and preferably with a friction fit thereto, thereby to be rotatable relative to the shank of the needle and to function in the same manner as described above in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. In the embodiment of Fig. 7 the bracket 53 is of similar shape to that shown in Fig. 2 but is formed with a base flange 34 adapted to fit the exterior of the piece 30 and to be fastened thereto by the screw 36. It will be apparent that the parts shown in Fig. 7 may be readily assembled by passing the discs II and I3 over the pointed end of the needle with the bracket 53 removed from the piece 30. When the discs I l and I3 are in place on the cylindrical portion 32, the bracket 53 may be fastened in place by means of the screw 36, the inturned end 55 and the shoulder between head portion of piece 30 and the portion 32 thereafter acting to hold the discs in their operating position.

Within the scope of the invention various other modifications of the structure may be made. By omitting the pin 5 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for example, and providing a bore in the head I which fits tightly to the end portion 3 of the shank I, the head 1 may be driven or pressed onthis end portion of the shank. In such case, after the discs H and I3 have been placed in their operative position on the shank l, the head I and the bracket 9 being made in one piece, for example, of plastic molded material or of metal or other resilient material in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bracket 9 may be sprung sufficiently to permit the inturned end [5 thereof to pass by the discs I l and I3 as the head I is driven or pressed on the shank into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be apparent also that the discs II and I3 may be placed on the shank l in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7 after the head I or piece '30 and brackets 9, 53 are in place on the shank of the needle or on the portion 32, Fig. 7, by inserting the pointed end of the shank in the bores of these discs assembled in the proper relation to each other for reading the numerals and then moving the discs along the shank until they reach the operative position beneath the marking bracket, the bracket 9 or 53 being sprung outwardly to clear the inturned end I5, '51. These discs also may be removed from the needle by lifting this portion of the bracket and sliding the discs to the pointed end of the needle.

In another method of assembly of these parts where the bracket 9 has an inturned end l5 the two discs II and I3 may be placed together with the numerals thereof in proper position to be read. They then may be placed within the space of the bracket 9 between the inturned end [5 and. the leg l6 of this bracket before the head I and its bracket 9 are set on the end 3 of shank I. With the bores of the discs in aligned relation to the bore of the head I in which the shank end 3 fits, these three parts so related then may be passed over the shank I at end 3 thereof to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This method of assembly may be utilized, for example, in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 when the material, form and dimensions of the parts are such as not to be adapted to bending or springing of the bracket 9, 41 to pass the inturned end I5, 26 thereof by the discs I l and I3.

In assembling the parts which are utilized in the embodiment of Fig. 7, a conventional knitting needle may be used'which has the flange head 38 integral with or suitably fastened upon the shank l thereof. After the discs II and I3 have been mounted on the cylindrical portion '32 of piece 30 and the bracket 53 has been fastened in place, the pointed end of the needle may be inserted from the right in Fig. 7 in the hole drilled in the piece 30. By providing a tight fit of the piece 30 to the shank l or bysuitable fastening means the piece 30 may be held in place on the needle shank with flange 38 abutting the piece 30 of the device.

Various other modifications of the counting means of the invention as well as of details of the construction may be made within the scope of the invention while providing a hand knitting needle affording the advantages above described and embodying the features of a plurality of indicia carrying elements mounted on the needle and arranged for relative rotation thereof with respect to each other and with respect to an indicating means carried by the needle so as selectively to register the indicia of the several elements with said indicating means. All such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In combination with a hand knitting needle, counting means comprising a plurality of elements separately rotatable on the axis of the shank of the needle and positioned adjacent each other and adjacent one end of the shank of the needle, said rotatable elements each carrying on its periphery a series of indicia adapted to be selectively brought into register with selected indicia on an adjacent rotatable element on rotation of one element relative to another, and a member fixed in relation to said shank of the I needle and formed to extend across the several rotatable elements. and to extend about said elements to prevent movement thereof along the shank of the needle while providing for said rotation of said elements on said shank, said member providing indicating means adapted to indicate the indicia on the several rotatable elements brought into register therewith upon rotation of said elements.

2. In the combination with a hand knitting needle defined in claim 1, said elements being rotatable on said shank of the needle in frictional contact therewith for maintaining each element in the position on said shank to which it is selectively rotated.

3. In the combination with a hand knitting needle defined in claim 1, said elements being in the form of cylindrical discs of similar diameter positioned in adjacent relation to each other upon said shank, said discs carrying said indicia on the cylindrical peripheries thereof, said indicating means comprising a piece having a linear extent lengthwise of said shank and adjacent the cylindrical peripheries of said discs to indicate register of said indicia therewith, said indicating means having an opening therein for each disc positioned for successive registration therewith of said indicia upon said selective rotation of said rotatable elements.

4. In the combination with a hand knitting needle defined in claim 1, said elements being in the form of discs of similar diameter positioned adjacent each other on said shank, said discs carrying said indicia on their peripheries, said member extending also peripherally about said discs to provide a guard therefor against accidental rotation of said discs while leaving said discs accessible for manipulation by the fingers of the hand.

5. In the combination with a hand knitting needle defined in claim 1, said elements being in the form of discs of similar diameter positioned adjacent each other on said shank, said discs carrying said indicia on their peripheries, said indicating means andsaid member being formed as a common piece extending also peripherally about said discs to provide a guard therefor against accidental rotation of said discs While leaving said discs accessible for manipulation by the fingers of the hand, said piece being provided with openings positioned thereon for successive registration of the indicia on the respective discs upon selective rotation thereof.

6. In the combination with a hand knitting needle defined in claim 1, said elements being in the form of discs of similar diameter positioned in adjacent relation to each other upon said shank, said member being formed for removable attachment to said needle to provide for placing said discs in position on and removing said discs from said shank upon removal of said member, and means for fastening said member to said needle.

7. In the combination with a hand knitting needle defined in claim 1, said elements being rotatable on said shank of the needle in frictional contact therewith for maintaining each element in the position on. said shank to which it is selectively rotated, said frictional contact being. provided by forming said element with a portion of resilient material in contact with the part of said needle shank on which said elements are rotatable.

8. A counting device for a hand knitting needle comprising a plurality of cylindrical discs each carrying on its peripheral cylindrical surface a series of indicia, means adapted to be mounted on the shank of the needle for supporting said discs adjacent each other for rotation on the axis of the needle shank, a member supported by said disc supporting means and extending across the peripheral surfaces of the several discs and adapted to retain said discs in place adjacent each other, and indicating means carried by said member for indicating the indicia on the several discs brought into register therewith upon rotation of said discs.

9. A counting device for a hand knitting needle comprising a plurality of discs each carrying on its peripheral surface a series of indicia, means adapted to be mounted on the shank of the needle for supporting said discs adjacent each other for rotation on and relative to said supporting means and relative to each other with their axes extending in the same direction as the axis of the shank of the needle, a member supported by said disc supporting means and formed to extend generally parallel to the axis of the discs across and about said discs at one Side thereof to prevent movement thereof with respect to said disc supporting means in the direction parallel to said axis and to expose a portion of the peripheral surfaces of said discs, and indicating means supported by said member and extending across the peripheral surfaces of the several discs for indicating the indicia on the several discs brought into register therewith upon rotation of said discs.

GERTRUDE H. MAKER. SYLVIA S. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,188,283 Stallman Jan. 30, 1940 2,210,173 Langbart Aug. 6, 1940 2,276,062 Peyser Mar. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,059 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1934 424,432 Great Britain Feb. 21, 1935 527,913 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1940 

